In order to clarify the ethnic character of the inhabitants of the Ancient Epirus we may refer directly to the Greek-Byzantine writers and chroniclers who never use the name Epirotes. While describing the events happening in the territory of Epirus in the first half of the XIV century, J. Kantakuzenos, calls the inhabitants of the regions of Berat, Kanina, Devoll, Kolonja, Pogoni and Libisda Albanites. From the Chronicle of Ioannina we learn that the Mazaraki were the inhabitants of the territory of Permet, the Zenevisi the inhabitants of Dropull and Delvina, the Malakasi the inhabitants of Malaka, in the vicinity of Ioannina, and according to the general opinion of historians they were all Albanians, That the coastal regions of the Ionian Sea were inhabited by Albanians, this is clearly said by Christoboulos and is implied by Chalcocondylas.

Some of these tribes may have actually been Arvanitovlachs / Vlachophones - such as the Malakasi (or perhaps) Zenevisi. In any event, we have found here the Zenevisi Albanites as the inhabitants of Dropull and Delvina.

- Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond (1976). Migrations and Invasions in Greece and Adjacent Areas. Noyes Press. ISBN 978-0-8155-5047-1. One of the tribal names used by Cantacuzenus, 'Malakasii', was derived most probably from the plain 'Malakasa' or 'Malakastra' between Valona and Berat, which provides superb winter pasture. The name is evidently of Vlach origin ... They were in fact Vlachs; for the Vlach-speaking Malakasii and Bouii, who live today in central Pindus and in southern Thessaly, are undoubtedly descendants of these same people. They were called "Albanians" by Cantacuzenus, because they had come in a geographical sense from the area which he called "Albania"; this included the lowland plain of Malakasa ...

- Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond (2001). Collected Studies: Further studies on various topics. Hakkert. For example the Malakasii were a well-known Vlach pastoral tribe; they founded their city as Malakasi and still call themselves Malakasii.

Estimates of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania range from two to seven percent of the total population, but the generally accepted view is that today there are approximately between 45-50,000 ethnic Greeks in Albania, roughly 2 percent of the total Albanian population. According to the 1961 census, the number of Greek speakers was 40,000, and by 1981 the figure had risen to 58,758, a rise in proportion to the general increase in Albania’s population. Most Greek sources, however, claim a Greek minority figure of 250–300,000. Yet this could only be realistically achieved if we include Orthodox Albanians as well as the Vlach community, who are also Orthodox by faith.

In Albania it is generally believed that many of those who are considered part of the minority are in fact Albanians, who just happen to speak Greek due to their having worked in Greece or to their proximity to the minority, or that they are really Vlachs in origin and have been classified as minority persons due to their Christian Orthodox religion. Confusingly, Vlachs often claim to be Greek to get Greek passports and visas, and there has also been a high rate of ‘conversions’ of Muslim Albanians to Orthodoxy as a result of economic pressures. Given the urge by many to escape Albania at all costs, it would certainly be tempting to claim Greek consciousness.

He was born in Himara in 1864, the Milaj family originates from Progonati, fallen in Himara in the XVII century after the Islamization of Labëria. This family represented the filohellenic or Grecoman stream as it was known.

The Chimariotes are like their ancestors in the time of Cantacuzene, whom he terms Ax3avoi aurovoko vowabeç, independent shepherds.” The Chimariotes who inhabit the Acroceraunian range are a hardy and predatory race of Albanian Christians, who sometimes come out from their rocks, and carry in vessels, which they ...

A Classical and Topographical Tour Through Greece: During the ..., Volume 1
Edward Dodwell
1819

Before I was doing research about the ethnic composition of Himare, I had this discussion with an Arvanite who lives in Spetses. His name was Giorgos Bekas and unlike many Arvanites he acknowledged his Albanian origin. We also discussed about 'Arvanite' surnames, which I have mentioned some months ago here. I was told that 'Bekas' is an Arvanite surname (among with many others of course). When I was looking for Himare some months later I find a Greek historical figure from Himare with the same surname (Christos Bekas a Greek general of 1821 revolution).

A Vlach in fact told me that his ancestors had Greek names for centuries.

Chimariotes are Albanians of Liapi (Lab) tribe, and speak only the Albanian language.

(I believe there might be some Arvanitovlach elements among these Chimariotes and others in this general area.)

What is written in Greek if I may ask?

---- A few days after our arrival in this village, Spiro Milio presented himself to Mavrocordato, with a corps of two hundred picked Chimariots, the most martial-looking men in the whole army. They are not to be distinguished from Albanians, their dress and language being perfectly similar; but though their religion is Greek, they do not understand one syllable of Greek.